Cavs' Atkinson praises Mitchell's clutch play: 'He knows the moment'
Kenny Atkinson spoke glowingly of Donovan Mitchell after his clutch play helped the Cleveland Cavaliers hold off the Miami Heat's comeback bid Wednesday night.
"I feel like when we need him he gives it, he knows the moment," the Cavs head coach told reporters, including ESPN's Brian Windhorst, after the Cavs' 121-112 Game 2 win. "He doesn't do it when we're up 10 or 15 (points). He'll wait and wait.
"I think that's the maturity level he's gotten to where he is in his career, understanding what the situation is, what the moment is."
Mitchell took over after the Heat cut a 19-point lead to just two with 4:25 remaining. The six-time All-Star scored 10 of the Cavs' next 12 points, including back-to-back triples to give Cleveland a seven-point advantage with 1:52 to go.
Mitchell finished with 30 points - including 7-of-10 shooting from deep - six boards, six assists, and one steal in 36 minutes. He joins LeBron James as the only players in franchise history to have multiple playoff games with at least 30 points, five rebounds, five assists, and five threes.
"I've worked really hard to be in those moments," Mitchell said. "You're fatigued or whatever, but you put your head down and get to the spots."
The first-round series now shifts to Miami on Saturday with Cleveland up 2-0.